Провідний/а спеціаліст/ка з управління ліквідністю / Lead Liquidity Management Specialist

Program: USAID-funded GROW Project in Ukraine 
Application Deadline: Until filled
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

World Council of Credit Unions seeks a Lead Liquidity Management Specialist for the GROW Project in Ukraine (hereinafter – GROW), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to work closely with United Credit Unions (UCUs) and credit unions to manage and implement with full utilization the USD 4 million Liquidity Fund for rural MSMEs and farmers. Concurrently, the position will work to build their liquidity management, risk management capacities of united credit unions She/he will work closely as a team member of GROW to help revive the credit union sector in Ukraine and expand liquidity to boost credit unions’ agriculture lending.

About the Project:

The GROW Project in Ukraine is a four – year project implemented by World Council of Credit Unions and funded by USAID. 

The goals of GROW are to: 

• Support MSME growth through increased lending 
• Improve the enabling environment for credit unions 
• Improve the operational capacity of Ukrainian credit unions to better serve MSMEs 

The GROW Project will expand access to finance through credit unions for legal entities and private entrepreneurs, including farms, MSMEs, and cooperatives, as well as individuals in rural areas who are seeking to start or expand existing businesses. To facilitate this, GROW will address the supply of business financing, improve the enabling environment, and deepen the technical capacity of credit unions to provide and promote their financial services. 

Duties:

The Lead Liquidity Management Specialist will lead all tasks to develop a liquidity fund mechanism for credit unions, operationalize it, and support its day-to-day operations in line with project goals and annual implementation plans. The Lead Liquidity Management Specialist will work closely in coordination with GROW partners, international partners and experts to draw on lessons learned per experience in other countries. Day-to-day work with GROW team and UCUs will be a must to ensure coordination of activities and proper oversight of the Fund performance. Specific duties are as follows:

Technical

• Lead and coordinate GROW work to support UCUs in upgrading and managing a liquidity fund for credit unions
• Support development of the legal and governance framework to design: how funds are managed, conditions for fund disbursements, monitoring mechanisms to mitigate risks of misappropriation, and market distortion; and
• Monitor processes for eligibility and lending decisions, market-rates, loan disbursement criteria and monitoring, and relevant polices and forms to be used by credit unions and UCUs.

• Build the capacity of UCUs to manage additional external funds for on-lending to credit unions
• Coordinate and support institutional evaluation of UCUs in coordination with international investors to identify gaps in UCUs’ operations and inform on technical assistance design;
• Develop and execute plan for implementation of procedures and policies in the UCUs based on evaluation results;
• Work with UCUs to ensure ability to train their credit union members and improve their analytical and management capacities; and
• Establish a risk managements system, internal controls, and fraud prevention mechanisms for the fund.

• Lead portfolio management and complimentary technical assistance to UCUs  
• Lead needed hands-on support to UCUs to manage and disburse funds;
• Lead technical assistance for lending practices, credit analysis and methodologies to improve credit union analysis, and recovery as a priority for each credit union;
• Lead technical assistance for development of credit union business plans;

General

• Oversee all tasks and deliverables under this objective, including managing the team (as needed) and other employees to support strengthening of credit unions seeking to access the liquidity fund;
• Work closely with UCUs and serve as primary liaison between UCUs’ Risk Managers and GROW, in particular;
• Collaborate closely with other USAID activities as applicable;
• Create training materials and hold training sessions as needed; develop and supervise training programs for partners as needed;
• Liaise with partner organizations, consultants, government officials, and other stakeholders as needed independently to ensure proper communication and information flow;
• Coordinate with international partners, consultants, volunteers, and WOCCU’s advocacy team providing needed support to GROW;
• Contribute to the development of work plans, quarterly reports, reports to USAID, as well as GROW and partner annual reports, and reporting required for the project partners, recipients, and government as assigned by COP / DCOP;
• Work closely with other project team members to ensure synergies, efficacy, and proper flow of work between various tasks and objectives;
• Travel outside of Kyiv, as needed, to reach rural credit unions and their members; and
• Fulfill all tasks required to meet project goals under CAP’s liquidity support activities as assigned and per request of the COP or DCOP.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters’ degree in economics, finance, banking or another related field;
• At least 5-7 years of experience in banking or financial industry;
• Previous experience working with or understanding of international financial institutions;
• Professional certification in risk management and program management preferred;
• Previous USAID experience preferred;
• In-depth understanding of NBU requirements on risk management, liquidity, and credit union financial ratios;
• Training experience preferred;
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills;
• Native Ukrainian fluency, both written and spoken;
• Fluency or high proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint);
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Culturally sensitive and able to work with multiple stakeholders in Ukraine and understand their various positions/viewpoints;
• An ambitious nature, problem-solving abilities, creativity, and a dedication to creating change in Ukraine.

Apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, and three reference contacts to [email protected] with the subject line: “Lead Liquidity Management Specialist.” Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Thank you.